The resurgent Dallas Cowboys will deploy star man Ezekiel Elliott to try and derail the New Orleans Saints’ march to the Super Bowl,
New Orleans Saints (10-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (6-5) (0120 GMT)
The resurgent Dallas Cowboys will be the latest team to try and derail the Saints’ march to the Super Bowl as they roll out danger man Ezekiel Elliott to try and beat the NFL’s best team.
Drew Brees and his Saints look the most well-rounded outfit in the league, as their ten wins in a row suggest, but in Elliott they face the NFL’s top rusher who has bullied his way to at least 120 yards in each of their last three games – all wins.
Dallas now hold a share of the NFC East and, although they’ll want a statement win over the Saints on national TV, defeat would not be the end of the world as upcoming games with the Eagles and Giants in particular will decide their finishing position in a wide-open section.
Although New Orleans have swept teams aside with their high-flying attack, they boast the NFL’s top-ranked defence against the run, so this game could rest on that battle in the trenches.
The Cowboys defence will also have its hands full though, as the Saints are clinical on offence. They’re fifth in yards but top in scoring with an average of 37.2 points per game, while they’ve piled up 30-plus in five straight games behind Brees’ 29 touchdowns against just two interceptions.
Against that is a Dallas defence that is yet to allow more than 28 points in any game this year and averages just under 20 points against in each contest. This game should provide plenty of answers to each team’s credentials.
In games where each department stacks up against each other, one big play here and there can make all the difference and the Saints have proved all season with the likes of Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram in their ranks that they can strike at any time.
Verdict: New Orleans Saints (-4.5pts on the handicap) at 8/13
Touchdowns: Under 5.5 touchdowns at 13/8
